Having recently lost a few good size fish due to the hook not taking I've been thinking about tying a few a few streamers with stinger hooks. Rational behind this is I'm assuming that the pike struck at the rear of the fly, a 4" streamer tied on a 6/0 Fulling Mill 32461 pike hook (de-barbed of course...).
Does anybody have any advice regarding tying this type of fly? Also would dropping the main hook size to say 4/0 from 6/0 help?
BTW the particular fly (perch coloured type thing with a white fritz body and Flashabou flanks and tail) has proved to be very effective on my local still water, I'll try to post a photo as soon as I can track down the other half camera.
Cheers

Andy

Andy, 'we' have a similar problem with winter run steelhead (short strikers on long body flies). Usually the stinger hook will be half (or slightly less) the size of the main hook as you want it to 'float' right at the rear of the tie.

Couple of ways you can attach same. If you tie your own use 30-50 pound 'gel spun (20 # stiff mono is also effective) take a length of the gel spun/mono and tie it into a loop. Length of loop AND stinger fly long enough so it will sit in the end of the eventual fly.

From up the shank push the loop 'back' through the eye of the front hook, and pull the loop back over the eye of the hook. Just reverse the process for the stinger.

Now a few quick wraps of thread will hold the loop onto the main hook; it's not necessary (as a norm) to do the same with the trailer. Now run your thread up/down to secure the gel spun/mono along the top of the main hook to hold in place. (A lot of guys will also use a drop or two of super glue to hold it in place.)

From this point just construct your fly and you're good to go.

The other way is just a straight bit of heavy mono/gel spun and tie same directly to the stinger. Adjust the length of the m/gs on the top hook and wrap it on (again along the top of the main hook) DOUBLE BACK and wrap under with thread again. With this combo super glue is a necessary step to assure 'everything' on the main hook stays in place.

Fred

There is another method that is more often used by lure fishermen with large spinner baits. Put the hook sideways through a small piece of silicone tubing, put the hook through the eye of the stinger hook, add another small piece of silicone rubber, again sideways. With this method you can have the point of the stinger hook on the opposite side of the main hook, another helpful option.

This method is normally used to put a small sharp treble unto the very large single hook of a spinner bait. Don't know if that is useful or not in flyfishing terms.

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the answers. I have tied a few flies with a stinger hook (same as a tandem fly I guess) using Drennan Soft Strand 28lb Pike Wire (same as I use for my leaders...cue discussion!!). I crimped a loop through the eye of the main hook and then tied the wire back along the shank of the hook. Then once I had dressed the fly I crimped a second loop to hold the stinger hook.
The leader can be tied through the eye of the main hook AND the forward loop in the wire attaching the second hook, giving a strong mechanical link in the event of a fish being hooked on the rear hook only.
I've only used it a few times without any strikes, so as yet unproved. Only observation is that I could probably do with putting some electrical heat shrink tubing over the join between the stinger hook and wire to hold the hook straight on the wire and stop it from hinging.

Cheers

Andy

Why not have a go using Waddington shanks and a Fireline loop for the hook as per the step by step in the Jack Cook link:

http://www.rackelhanen.se/eng/10269a.htm

A pair of small lead eyes 1/3 down the shank sometimes adds 'balance' to this type of pattern - 'Intruder' style.


I've dressed a few and armed them with Owner 4/0 circle hooks; although, as yet, they remain untested


PiB